JPH0120358Y2 - - Google Patents

Description

[Detailed Description of the Invention] Industrial Application Field The present invention relates to a recording paper guide device for an image recording apparatus, and more particularly to a recording paper guide device that merges and guides recording paper fed from a plurality of paper feed units.

Prior Art Image recording devices, such as copying machines, having multiple paper feed units have been used in the past, but in the past, each paper feed unit accommodated only a small number of copy sheets.
Alternatively, since the number of paper feed sections was two or at most three, it was relatively easy to merge the conveyance paths from multiple paper feed sections, and a fixed guide member at the merge section was sufficient. It was hot.

However, when the number of paper feed sections increases or the amount of copy paper stored in the paper feed section increases, when merging using the conventional method, the conveyance path leading to the merging section is lengthened so that the copy sheets enter the fixed guide member. The approach angle had to be made small, which required a large amount of space. Although it is possible to save space by leading the conveyance path straight from the paper feed section, the approach angle of the copy paper becomes large, which makes conveyance unstable, resulting in feeding errors and uneven leading edges.

On the other hand, the merging section of copy sheets is one of the parts of the copying machine where jams are most likely to occur, and it is desirable to construct the merging section so that it can be opened for jam removal.

Purpose/Summary It is an object of the present invention to provide a recording paper guide device that can smoothly merge recording sheets conveyed from a plurality of paper feed sections and can open the merge section.

The above purpose is to provide a plurality of paper feed units that selectively feed recording paper, and a plurality of conveyance paths that merge together to convey the recording paper fed from the plurality of paper feed units toward a common conveyance path. a movable first guide member provided at the confluence of the plurality of conveyance paths; and a first movable guide member disposed opposite to the first guide member and which moves under its own weight within a predetermined range according to movement of the first guide member. means for positioning the first guide member in a plurality of sheet guiding positions facing the plurality of transport paths with the second guide member being driven; This is achieved by a recording paper guiding device of an image recording apparatus characterized in that it includes means for moving the first and second guide members beyond the range to position the first and second guide members in an open position.

Example Embodiments of the present invention will be described below with reference to the drawings.

The copying apparatus 1 shown in FIG. 1 is divided into a copying unit 2 and a paper feed unit 3.
Copy paper sent out from the upper opening 4 of the copying unit 2 is fed into the copying unit 2 from the lower opening 5 of the copying unit 2.

The copying unit 2 uses a scanning optical system 10 to expose an original image onto a photosensitive drum 11 to form an electrostatic latent image, develops this electrostatic latent image using a developing device 12, and then transfers the image onto a copy paper being fed. However, since a known electrophotographic system is adopted in which the image is sent to a fixing device by a conveying unit 13 and fixed, a detailed explanation will be omitted.

The copying unit 2 has an upper paper feed section 16 and a lower paper feed section 17 that accommodate cassettes 14 and 15, respectively.
The copy paper is sent out from the upper paper feed section 16 by the paper feed roller 18 and the pair of transport rollers 19 and 20, and from the lower paper feed section 17 by the paper feed roller 21, and then passes through the copying unit side transport path B. It is designed so that it can be sent to the confluence part A.

The paper feed unit 3 has cassettes 30, 31, 3, respectively.
2, a first paper feed section 33, a second paper feed section 34,
It has a third paper feed section 35, and each paper feed section is provided with paper feed rollers 36, 37, 38 and transport roller pairs 39, 40, 41, respectively. The copy paper sent out from each paper feed section is transferred to a pair of transport rollers 42, 4.
3, 44 and the guide member 45, the paper is fed into the lower opening 5 of the copying unit 2, passes through the paper feed unit side conveyance path C, and reaches the confluence section A.

This paper feeding unit 3 is useful when copying paper of many sizes is used or when it is desired to store a large amount of copying paper for making large quantities of copies.

FIG. 2 is an enlarged view showing the part where the copy paper from the upper and lower paper feed sections and the copy paper from the paper feed unit 3 merge, and the paper guide device of the present invention is installed in the merge part A. ing.

The paper guide device of the present invention includes a first guide member 52 that is swingable about a shaft 51 of a lower timing roller 50 provided in the conveyance unit 13, which is indicated by a dashed line in FIG. 2, and a main body side plate (not shown). A second guide is rotatably held by a shaft and is movable following the first guide member 52 at a constant distance by regulating portions 53 that are integrally provided on both sides of the first guide member 52. It consists of a member 54 and a mechanism for swinging the guide member. Note that the second guide member 52 is integrally provided with a detection member 55 for detecting copy paper.

As shown in FIGS. 3 and 4, the swinging mechanism includes a pulley 60 provided in the transport unit 13, one end of which is fixed to the pulley 60, and the other end fixed to the first guide member 52 via a pulley 61. wire 6
2, a solenoid 64 that drives a pin 63 that engages in a U-shaped engagement portion 60a formed on the bottom surface of the pulley 60, and one end fixed to a second pulley portion 60b formed on the top surface of the pulley 60. and a wire 66 whose other end is fixed to a release lever 65 that is removably provided on the side surface of the transport unit 13, and the shaft 5.
1 and the first guide member 52 is wound around the second guide member 52.
It consists of a spring 67 that biases clockwise in the figure.

In the above configuration, when the copying unit 2 side is selected as the paper feed section, the solenoid 64 is
In the OFF state, the first guide member 52 is biased clockwise by the spring 67, and is positioned at the solid line position (first position) in FIGS. 2 and 3 by a stopper (not shown). The second guide member 54 is also moved to the position shown by the solid line.
When copying is performed in this state, the copy paper fed from the upper or lower paper feed sections 16, 17 is sent between the first guide member 52 and the second guide member 54 from the copying unit side conveyance path B. and is well guided toward the transfer section D.

Next, when the paper feed unit side is selected as the paper feed section, the solenoid 64 is turned on, and the pulley 60 is rotated by pulling the engagement part 60a of the pulley 60, and the first guide member 52 is moved through the wire 62. Move it to the middle broken line position (second posture). The second guide member 54 is driven by its own weight and moves to the position shown by the broken line. In this state, the first and second guide members 52 and 54 face the paper feeding unit side conveyance path C, and guide the copy paper fed from the paper feeding unit 3 well.

In the third position for jam removal and maintenance, when the release lever 65 is pulled, the pulley 60 is rotated clockwise by the wire 66 and the second pulley portion 60b. At this time, the engaging portion 60a is
It is separated from the pin 63 as shown by the dashed line. By the rotation of the pulley 60, the first guide member 52 is retracted to the position shown by the dashed line in FIG. Perform proper jam processing, etc. When the release lever 65 is released, the first and second guide members 52 and 54 return to the paper guiding position described above due to the biasing force of the spring 67.

Furthermore, in this embodiment, the conveyance unit 13 of the copying unit 2 is configured so that the front side thereof can be rotated downward about an axis parallel to the paper conveyance direction on the rear side, as shown in FIG. This allows the upper surface of the merging section A transfer section D transport unit 13 to be opened. At this time, the first guide member 52 is rotated downward on the front side integrally with the conveyance unit 13, while the second guide member 54 is held on the side plate of the main body to restrict the rear side of the first guide member 52. Since it is in contact with the portion 53, it remains at the position shown by the solid line or the position shown by the broken line in FIG. Therefore, the area from the merging section A to the upper surface of the transport unit 13 is opened more widely than in the third position, and jamming and maintenance can be performed more easily.

In the above embodiment, two sets of transport paths are merged, one on the copying unit side and one on the paper feed unit side. It is clear that the guide members may be arranged opposite to each other.

Further, although the above-described embodiments have been described with respect to copy paper, it goes without saying that the present invention can be applied to other image recording apparatuses such as printers.

As explained above, when the two guide plates are variably opposed to the plurality of conveyance paths, the angle at which the copy paper sent from each conveyance path enters between the guide plates can be kept almost constant, so that the feeding It is possible to save space on the conveyance path without causing mistakes or tip variations.

Effects As explained above, the present invention has a plurality of paper feed sections that selectively feed recording paper, and a system that merges the paper fed from the plurality of paper feed sections to convey them toward a common conveyance path. a movable first guide member provided at the confluence of the plurality of conveyance paths; and a movable first guide member disposed opposite to the first guide member and responsive to movement of the first guide member within a predetermined range. a second guide member that moves according to its own weight; means for positioning the first guide member in a plurality of sheet guiding positions facing the plurality of transport paths with the second guide member being driven; and a first guide member. A recording paper guide device for an image recording apparatus, characterized in that the recording paper guide device for an image recording apparatus is provided with means for moving the guide member beyond the driven range of the second guide member to position the first and second guide members in an open position. The recording paper conveyed from a plurality of feeding units can be smoothly merged without taking up a large space, and jam processing can be easily performed, which is useful.

[Brief explanation of the drawing]

FIG. 1 is a sectional view of a copying apparatus according to the present invention, FIG. 2 is an enlarged view of the main parts thereof, FIG. 3 is a perspective view of the main parts showing an embodiment of the present invention, and FIGS. B is a top view and a side view of the same essential parts, and FIG. 5 is a diagram showing a state in which the transport unit 13 is opened. 2...Copying unit, 3...Paper feeding unit, 4
...Top opening, 5...Bottom opening, 13...Transportation unit, 16...Top paper feeding section, 17...Bottom paper feeding section,
33...First paper feeding section, 34...Second paper feeding section, 35
...Third paper feed section, 50...Lower timing roller,
51...Lower timing roller shaft, 52...First guide member, 53...Restriction part, 54...Second guide member, 60...Pulley, 60a...Engaging part, 60
b...Second pulley part, 62, 66...Wire, 6
3...Pin, 64...Solenoid, 65...Release lever, 67...Spring, A...Merge part, B
...Transportation path on the copying unit side, C...Transportation path on the paper feed unit side, D...Transfer section.

Claims (1)

[Scope of Utility Model Registration Claim] Multiple paper feed units that selectively feed recording paper, and the recording paper fed from the multiple paper feed units are merged to be conveyed toward a common conveyance path. A plurality of conveyance paths and a movable first section provided at the confluence of the plurality of conveyance paths.
a guide member; a second guide member that is disposed opposite to the first guide member and moves according to its own weight within a predetermined range according to movement of the first guide member; means for positioning a first guide member in a plurality of sheet guiding positions facing the plurality of transport paths; and a means for moving the first guide member beyond a driven range of the second guide member to move the first and second guide members 1. A recording paper guide device for an image recording apparatus, comprising means for positioning the recording paper guide in an open position.